loved and unloved . . .

I have QUITE the stash of October Afternoon papers and goodies, leftover from my stint as a "Designers We Love" at OA.  Apparently, somewhere along the way, us "designers they loved" were dropped, without a word,  but at least I have this big fat box of papers to ease my disappointment!  These are just two REALLY quick cards I made, using Campfire papers.  I have been a busy little bee making cards, and little goodies for the craft fair at my church next month.  Not too many cards, since I have about 200 of them already, but I needed a few more masculine looking cards for the selling-stash.

And now, onto my treasured Scenic Route paper.  I was THE saddest person the day I found out that Scenic Route was closing its doors.  I have HOARDED this paper ever since, but really, I NEED to use it up, and purge the stash of unused products.  SO, I have been making up card sets, using this super simple paper-strip design, with cute simple sentiments from Tami Mayberry's stamp set at Gina K.  I LOVE the hodge-podge feeling of the papers together, and the way all the cards come together in the set, coordinating . . .but NOT coordinating.  And it feels AWESOME to use up all this paper.  So far I've made about 40 of these cards.  (And yes, I am getting pretty sick of them now!)

I was going to use these sets as Christmas gifts, for teachers and such.  But I think I'll try to sell them first! If they don't sell, I'll have built-in gifts, but if they DO, it's not big deal to whip up some more simple card sets later in the year!

summery flowers and sanity

Hello weekend! It is definitely feeling like summer vacation now. We are still trying to find our groove - although the days were quite busy this week, they still seemed to drag on, by afternoon time. I hit that afternoon lull, around 1:30-2:00, and all I want to do is TAKE A NAP, (which generally doesn't coordinate with the boys schedules or moods in allownig me a catnap!) I am trying to establish some sort of routine to our days so that things will run a bit more smoothly. And I'm making some cards in the evenings, but I don't have ANYTHING new to show you. . .darn for you, all these publication calls that want "never before seen" work - throws a damper on all 11 of you that visit my blog. Right? :)

But I do have an Apron Strings card to share with you today. And tomorrow or Monday I will be back with a CPS card too!! Today's card features a bit of Scenic Route and a bit of Jillibean Soup paper. Along with some flowers and twill. This card feels super summery to me. And I left it without a sentiment, so I can just add on whatever I need to(or leave it blank!) when I am ready to use it.

We've had a couple days of swimming lessons now, and Mr. B is finally getting more comfortable putting his head in the water. I feel like we just have to get him in the pool as much as possible now, so we don't lose momentum!!! We lured him underwater yesterday by hunting for coins on the steps. $1.63 seemed to do the trick! Nothing like a good old fashioned BRIBE!!!!

We have lots of changes and LIFE going on in our household right now, and crafty business definitely helps my sanity level. . .. I hope your weekend is terrific, and that you are finding lots of sanity and craftiness in your days! XOXO

my star (Apron Strings)

The Apron Strings card kit for June has something for all your summertime cards . . .it's got some Kaisercraft paper just perfect for weddings and graduations, some starry Scenic Route paper terrific for summer holidays and get-togethers, plus some bright cheery Jillibean Soup paper with a darling tree pattern! And of course, about a million embellies, ribbon, and do-dads for dressing up your projects. (I added alphabet stamps from CTMH to this card.)

One of my dearest girly girls is heading into town today, with her sweet LITTLE girly girls. . .the boys and I cannot WAIT to see them! And then we all leave town on Wednesday, so I am scrambling to get everything ready, so we can just PLAY for the next few days, instead of packing and cleaning. (Again.)

I am also on a MISSION to make cards. I have been knocking out at least one or two each night the past few evenings. But. .. sorry, I can't show you yet. So many publication calls are looking for never-before-seen cards - so I must save the cuteness. But not to fear, if they become not-quite-right for the magazines, they will become just-right for my blog!!! (And maybe even some lucky loved one's mailbox!)

And now. . ..I am going to attempt an early morning trip to the grocery store before the hubby leaves for work. I am off to score Yoplait YoPlus 4-packs for 25 cents a pack!!! LOVE IT!!!!
XOXO

it's MY day!

It's MY day. . .mine all mine!

It's my birthday,

and it's my anniversary!

Some people thought I was crazy to get married on my birthday, but I loved it!!! I had a wedding cake and a big fat chocolate birthday cake all on the same day, and everyone sang happy birthday to me at our wedding reception. It was AMAZING. Being surrounded by so many of my most loved people, all in one room, singing to me took my breath away. (Not to mention I got to wear a fabulously gorgeous dress and marry the boy of my dreams!)

But back to the craftiness - I created this card based on Tami's sketch #160, at Card Positioning Systems. I used some of my precious Scenic Route paper (who's closing I am still mourning!) and a stamp from Stamping Bella.

Hope your day is as happy as mine!!

XOXO

(oh, and I'm blogging at my mom's Close To My Heart blog today too! Be sure to pop on over and see my card!)

hellos and goodbyes . . .

Say hello to a new month (I love October!) and a breath of nearly autumn-like weather here in florida (for a few days anyway!) . . .and a new monthly kit from Unity. . . .and finally a NEW card from me (using the new October kit!) . . . head over to Angela's blog to check out the whole kit!

And sadly, it is time to say goodbye as well . . .goodbye to Scenic Route - one my most FAVORITE paper companies, which is closing its doors. (I used Scenic Route paper on this card. . .sniff sniff.) I guess I better hoard what I have left!!!

It is also a day for another goodbye . . .today is my last day on the Unity Stamp Co. design team. I have enjoyed my time creating for Unity, and it has been so neat to be a part of a company just as it is starting out. But it's time for me to move on, and to spend some time focusing on my sweet little family . . .and perhaps trying to get some SLEEP!!! Please know, that I am not going to STOP stamping, or stop creating, or stop using Unity, or stop ANYTHING really . . .it will just be on a more laid back schedule, and will allow me to roll with life a little more unscheduled. I'm looking forward to a few short-term guest design spots I will be filling in the coming months, and I'm looking forward to diving into my stash of stamps that need some more attention!!! So, really and truly . . I'm not going anywhere!!!

And now, as it is October first, I can pull out the autumn decorations, pretend its REALLY chilly and pretend there are lovely red and orange leaves falling from the trees. I'm going to go get a new cinnamon broom - I LOVE those things, and its tradition - I always make myself wait until October 1st, and perhaps bake up a batch of pumpkin bread. Or pumpkin cookies. Or both.

HAPPY FALL!!!!

You're one of my nicest thoughts. . .

The sentiments in this month's Incentive Kit, called "Sending My Love" at Unity Stamp Company are really terrific - great fonts, the perfect size, and versatile sayings. I used one simple stamp for this card, and some bits and pieces of Scenic Route patterned paper (yes, part of that "Use it or Lose it" stash I'm still working on.)

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a TERRIFIC weekend!!!

sneaky sneaky, take a peek!!

Tomorrow is the 1st! That means tomorrow is August Kit of the Month day at Unity!!! I have a little sneak peek for you today . . . .the sentiment and the heart with wings are two of the stamps found in the new kit!!!!!
This card came together really quickly, using this bright fun paper from Scenic Route, and some colored pencils to color the heart. Be sure to check here or at Angela's blog to see the WHOLE August kit!!!!! And be sure to bop around to the other design team girls' blogs today (and over the past week) to see some more sneak peeks here and there!!! (You can find everyone's links in my sidebar!)

two of my favorite things. . .

a colorful card . . .

and a cake.

Two of my favorite things!

It's been quite a while since I really decorated a cake. If you've stuck with me for quite a while, you'll remember I LOVE cake decorating. But the months of morning sickness sort of put a damper on the whole BAKING thing, so it felt good this past week, to scoop up some sugary sweet frosting and decorate away! The cake pan is a KitchenAid silicone pan which gave me the outline and shape of the sunflower. All I did was "color it in". :)

The card is using that fabulous "Surprise" line from Scenic Route - I just can't get enough of these bright colors!!! There was a card in the last issue of PaperCrafts, I'm so sorry I don't remember who made it, but it featured a bunch of little squares of patterned paper - and it totally rocked! What a FABULOUS way to use up lots of little scraps!! (All the little scraps I can't bear to part with!) (And the cute sentiment is from Hero Arts.)

Hey, one other tidbit for you. . .Apron Strings Designs has a new blog! Go check them out. I am so happy to be a card designer for them every few months - they have terrific scrapbooking AND card kits. (And I might just have a giveaway from them, to share with you, before too long!)

Have a great day!

A Challenge, and a NEW Kit!!!!

HAPPY WEEKEND!! It's been a busy whirlwind of a week, hasn't it?

Today is May First. . .and that means a NEW Kit of the Month at Unity! Here it is. . .

It's beautiful, isn't it?!

It's also the start of the next Unity Guest Designer Challenge. You can find all the details on the SCS forum. This is my card, based on this month's sketch. Basically, you use the sketch, and your April Kit of the Month, for your chance to be the next Guest Designer!

I used my favorite (well, favorite for right now) Scenic Route paper to create this fun, colorful card.

Check out the other designers who created a card for this sketch!

Brooke Lien

Jennifer Buck

Jeanne Streiff

Christi Snow

Natalie Dever

Amber Hight

Maren Benedict

Linsey Rickett

AJ Otto

Kimber McGray

Heather Brown

Jimmi Mayo

a couple of my favorite things. . .

This card includes a couple of my favorite things: Scenic Route paper (can't go wrong with that!), Unity Stamps, paper-piecing, the color RED, and dots (maybe circles is a better description, but close enough!) I did this card a few weeks ago, and I have been SAVING it for. . ..TODAY! Why not!? I hope you like it! It makes me happy to look at! (I love it when that happens!)

(card goodies: Unity Stamps (March and April KOM), Scenic Route patterned paper, CTMH ink)

Be sure to come back Thursday for Unity's Hip Hop. . . we have some SERIOUS fun in store. . .and an invitation . . .its a BIG ONE!!! ;)

Happy Saturday!!!

Hey friends! How are you on this lovely Saturday? There's nothing like feeling sick for two months, to give you a great appreciation for feeling HUMAN AGAIN! I'm certainly not feeling perfect, but GOSH, I feel better than I did! It is SO nice. I'm slowly catching up on . . .EVERYTHING. Life in general. And it feels good. And I am even typing to you, from my brand new computer armoire. . .I'll have to take a picture when I get it all set up - its beautiful!! Since the office, is becoming the baby's room, we had to do some rearranging, and make some more organized space around here!

This is a card using Unity's You + Me = Happy set. Love this mushroom. I did a combo of paper-piecing, and colored pencil to color it, and popped it, along with the turtle, up on foam tape. I stamped the flowers (from the November (?) Kit of the Month, and then traced over them in colored pencil. It just needed a little extra something in the background. All the patterned paper is from Scenic Route.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a GREAT day!!

XOXOX

CPS 98. .. .Dino-Mite!

It's the new year, a new week, and a new sponsor at CPS. We took the month of December off from sponsorships, so it's fun to get back in the groove for this week! Our sponsor is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. We were sponsored by them last year, and it was a real treat to work with this SWEET stamp company again!! This Dino-Mite set is a new release! Be sure to stop by their website and check out all of the new stamps, and be sure to visit the CPS blog to see the sketch, and the other designers' cards this week! I have another card, using this stamp set, and the sketch that I will share later this week!

(And how do you like that sharp black background!? I used my new lightbox to take this photo, and although there's a bit of a learning curve, and I am trying to figure out light placement etc, I really like it!!! It's fun to have the option of a black background!)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

CPS 92

Good morning! Sorry I am a day late in posting my usual-Sunday-post! I have been away from my computer so I didn't have the image to post. But here it is, my card for CPS sketch #92, with Scenic Route and MME papers, and a cutie patootie stamp from CTMH. Be sure to stop by Card Positioning Systems and check out the sketch, and the other girls' cards!

I have been in a bit of a slump lately, and although I got one cute card done last night, it was after sitting at my desk ALL evening .. . .and that was about all I accomplished that's worth anything. OH WELL. Maybe a big Thanksgiving dinner later this week will draw me from my creative slump. . .???? Have a great Monday, and a great Thanksgiving week!!!! I'll definitely be back on Wednesday if not before - we are Hip Hopping a day early this week, rather than doing it ON Thanksigiving! So come blog hopping with us, Thursday at 10:00AM Central time!